Road Collapses Five Days After Repair in Devri, Raising Questions on Public Works Department's Efficiency

देवरी जिला सागर मध्यप्रदेश | त्रिवेंद्र जाट

Public Outcry Over Substandard Road Repairs

Serious questions are being raised about the functioning of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Devri, Madhya Pradesh. Local citizens are expressing immense anger after a road repair, undertaken between Jhinna Pulia to High School and Foline Chhir to Semrakheri, crumbled just five days after completion.

The top asphalt layer of the repaired road has peeled off, reducing it to a pile of gravel. This points to the department's alleged use of substandard construction materials. Locals have voiced sharp reactions on social media, exposing the shoddy repair work.

Past Quality Concerns and Current Neglect

This route was formerly part of a national highway, and its upkeep is now the responsibility of local PWD officials. Approximately 30 months ago, this road underwent renovation at a cost of 1 crore rupees, at which time its quality was also questioned.

Currently, this hastily completed repair work, carried out under the SMDS fund, is seen as a result of overlooking standards, which has proven unsustainable. Congress Nagar President Gaurav Pade has described this incident as a milestone in corruption.

Widespread Road Neglect in Municipal Area

Amidst questions about the PWD's performance, the condition of roads within the municipal area also remains a cause for concern. Deep potholes in areas like Civil Line and Sahajpur Tiraha are causing accidents for commuters, disrupting traffic flow and inconveniencing the public.

Conflicting Statements and Lack of Transparency

According to departmental sources, a new tender for 2.94 crore rupees has been issued for the road that recently underwent poor repairs. Furthermore, a detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of a two-lane road worth 16 crore rupees is also in process. This makes the recent shoddy repair work even more damaging to public trust.

When contacted, Umeshankar Tiwari, Sub-Divisional Officer of the PWD, expressed ignorance about any repair work being carried out by the department at the mentioned locations. He also clarified that no payment has yet been made to the concerned contracting agency. These contradictory statements from officials have cast serious doubt on the departmental procedures and transparency.

Demand for Investigation and Accountability

Local citizens have demanded an impartial investigation and strict administrative action against those responsible for this lapse. The public expects judicious use of public funds and that road construction and repair work be carried out according to established standards, to prevent such incidents from recurring.